Charges dropped on four suspects

Charges have been dropped against some of the defendants who were arrested after the day-long manhunt through Ohakune and Raetihi in August.

The charges were dropped against Hemi Kohu, Melissa Vaka, Aroha Kohu and Michael Tamatea in the Whanganui District Court yesterday.

The four were charged with getting into a stolen vehicle and knowingly using a firearm against police. The remaining three accused have had their charges amended.

Dolphy Kohu is charged with two counts of attempted murder - or two alternative charges of using a firearm against a law enforcement officer - failing to stop, two counts of reckless driving, endangering transport, unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, unlawfully possessing a pistol, unlawfully possessing explosives, and possessing utensils for meth.

Hereina Paul faces two counts of using a firearm against a law enforcement officer, unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, accessory after the fact to attempted murder, and accessory after the fact to using a firearm against a law enforcement officer.

The third accused, Carlos Bushell, faces a charge of accessory after the fact to using a firearm against a law enforcement officer.

The charges arise from an alleged incident on August 19 where Kohu is said to have driven into a police car and shot at two officers. Paul and Bushell are accused of trying to help Kohu evade arrest, and Paul is also said to have shot at police.

The alleged offending sparked a manhunt in the Ohakune area.

As the charges were amended, Justice Simon France said he would not require pleas from the three until their next appearance on March 2.

Kohu and Paul spent the duration of their time in the dock clinging to each other, whispering, giggling, and gazing at each other.

Justice France set a possible trial date for August 22.